Town of Princeton
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
October 19, 2017
Petition for special permit for Nimrod League of Holden,
168 Coal Kiln Road
Minutes and Decision
The Princeton Zoning Board of Appeals held a Public Hearing on October 19, 2017 in the Town Hall Annex to consider the Petition of the Nimrod League of Holden for property located at 168 Coal Kiln Road, Princeton (Assessors map #16, Lot 1). The Petitioner sought a special permit, as prescribed by the Zoning Bylaws Section VII., subsection 2(B) and Section III, subsection 1(I), to allow an alteration or expansion of a non-conforming use in a Residential-Agricultural District.
Board members present were Chairman John Puricelli, Jesse Weeks, and Christopher Walton.
The hearing was convened at 7:00 P.M.
Chris Craigue, the president of the Nimrod League of Holden, discussed the nature of his organization and explained that the proposed project involved a reconstruction and minor reorientation of existing shooting stations. In particular, the pistol range would be realigned with the rifle range. The total number of shooting stations would not increase. The work is being done to increase safety and make the shooting stations more user-friendly.
Mr. Craigue explained that shooting activity and club membership are not increasing—they are just slightly altering the orientation of the stations. He further stated that no lighting would be installed since shooting after dark is not allowed.
The Board voted to open the public portion of the hearing. Hayla Sluss, 48 Oak Cr., stated that there were few plans or documents available in Town Hall prior to the hearing and the scope of the project was not well defined. She was concerned about a potential increase in noise. John Wetmiller, 53 Oak Cr., suggested that site changes at the club should help decrease noise levels.
At 7:22 P.M. the Chairman closed the public input portion of the hearing and the Board began deliberation. A letter from the Planning Board was read, which noted that the applicant had made a presentation and no site issues were seen. After deliberation, Chairman Puricelli moved for a vote.
At 7:27 P.M. the Board voted unanimously to allow the special permit. In so doing the Board makes the following findings of fact and law:
- The Nimrod Club of Holden, a hunting and fishing club with rifle and handgun shooting ranges on its property, is a preexisting, non-conforming use in a Residential-Agricultural District.
- The petitioner seeks to reconstruct and slightly reorient certain shooting stations to increase convenience and safety for its members. The number of shooting stations will not increase.
- There was no evidence that the proposed changes would be substantially more detrimental than the existing use to the neighborhood.
Appeals, if any, should be made pursuant to Section 17, of the Massachusetts Zoning Act, Chapter 40A and shall be filed within twenty (20) days after the date of the filing of this decision with the Town Clerk.
Princeton Zoning Board of Appeals
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John Puricelli (as chairman and representative of the Zoning Board of Appeals)
Dated:
A copy of this decision was filed with the Office of the Town Clerk on the __________ day of ______________.
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Town Clerk
The Town Clerk hereby certifies that twenty (20) days have elapsed after the decision was filed with the Office of the Town Clerk and no appeal has been filed as provided by Section 17 of the Massachusetts Zoning Act, Chapter 40A.
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Town Clerk
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